you could continue that train of thought and include AA, higher resolutions, textures, wire frames, graphics... and we end up at MUDS. All those innovations add layer upon layer of the overall believability of the game world.
We've also had a fair share of dead-ends. I.e. failed and abandoned tech. See 3D (in both games and TV..)
RT is unlikely to be abandoned, but I just don't see it being a huge priority for many gamers right now.
Honestly, who was talking about RT before nVidia needed to find a use for their Tensor cores in a gaming product? Did anyone see a general clamouring for RT from gamers? Nope. It wasn't even discussed.
Then nV decided that their Tensor cores (AI cores) could be repurposed for RT and *bam* pushes RT to the gamer population.
And now people are worrying about RT and the hardware is still barely good enough for the minimum amount of RT without completely killing framerates.
This isn't pushed by gamers. This is pushed by nV trying to a) find a use for their Tensor cores and b) find a way to inhibit AMD's performance.
I consider it to be a fairly cynical play by nV. I don't for one second think we're close to RT being essential in modern games.